Crisis Pregnancy Centers Need a Closer Look

Contact your legislators today and urge them to support Senate Bill 776:
Crisis Pregnancy Center Review Act.

All across Oregon, anti-abortion groups have set up Crisis Pregnancy Centers to dissuade women facing an unplanned pregnancy from obtaining abortion care. These organizations often mask their services, making women believe that they are receiving medically accurate family planning services when in fact they may not be receiving medical care at all. There is a growing concern that some, if not most, of the Crisis Pregnancy Centers in operation provide medically false and misleading information to women about pregnancy, abortion, and fertility. For example some centers advise pregnant women that abortion leads to breast cancer, infertility, and mental illness. This information is contrary to medical fact and is inconsistent with standards of patient care. To learn more about CPCs, please read Congressman Henry Waxman's Special Report on CPCs, July 2006.

Because of this growing health concern, Planned Parenthood has requested the CPC Review Act. Senate Bill 776 directs the Department of Human Services to collect data on how Crisis Pregnancy Centers disclose their services, whether they disclose religious affiliation and what medical services, if any, are being offered. DHS will also review the accuracy of medical information provided, advertising methods used, and the types of services provided. Our goal is to protect the health and safety of women and we believe this information is needed to protect patients.

Please click "Take Action" to have a letter automatically sent to your State Representative and Senator.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: What do crisis pregnancy centers have to hide? Support SB 776

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing in support the Crisis Pregnancy Center Review Act, Senate Bill 776.

I am concerned about the recently publicized activities of crisis pregnancy centers and their deceptive tactics. Crisis pregnancy centers dissuade women facing unplanned pregnancies from seeking the full range of family planning options. This concerns me because they often mislead vulnerable young women with inaccurate, medically false information, taking away their ability to make a fully informed decision.

Please ensure that Oregon women receive medically accurate information by supporting Senate Bill 776: The Crisis Pregnancy Review Act.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 21, 2007

Background Information

The tactics of crisis pregnancy centers have become front page news. Just a few weeks ago, Time Magazine ran a cover story highlighting the nationwide problem of Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Click here to read the Time Magazine article.

In Oregon, the Eugene Weekly recently published a story detailing one woman's experience with a local Crisis Pregnancy Center. Click here to read the Eugene Weekly article.